thoughts on election day (not about candidates)

[cellio]

Voting reforms I would like to see (unlikely as they may be):
1. No "vote straight party" options. The right to vote is important and was hard-won; it is not too much to require that you actually vote for candidates.
2. All voting is write-in. If you can't bother to learn, or write down

Comments

#1 has been implemented in Missouri, and people find it VERY annoying

[dakiwiboid]

I'm here via browngirl, who knew I'd find this interesting. I'm recuperating today from nearly 19 hours working at the polls yesterday with a sprained ankle and a crick in my neck, so forgive me if I'm a trifle incoherent

May I make a suggestion to you, since you're so concerned about security?

[dakiwiboid]

People who want to help protect the sanctity of the vote are desperately needed on the front lines, i.e. at the polls. Running those machines and protecting the data in them while it's at the polls is desperately important, as is making sure that people have a chance to vote. Are you actually committed enough to give a few days per year to the cause of free and fair elections? I can't imagine that any state would turn away an intelligent and aware volunteer.

Re: May I make a suggestion to you, since you're so concerned about security?

[cellio]

I was surprised to discover this year (too late to act) that, with advance notice, my employer gives paid time off to work the polls on election day. My (retired) mother works the polls every election day, so I may have to ask her what that entails.

[merle_]

(1) Word. Even if you are just walking in with a cheat-sheet you should never be beholden to one party.

(2) Not sure on this.. we have enough candidates that I don't hear of until I get the ballot (and then have to go online to research) that I like having at least a list of names in a booklet. My handwriting is also so poor that my vote would no longer count. ;-)

(3) Oh, you would have loved Elihu Harris. His staff basically handed out coupons for free chicken dinners for people who voted for him. I kid you not.

[cellio]

(2) Not sure on this.. we have enough candidates that I don't hear of until I get the ballot (and then have to go online to research) that I like having at least a list of names in a booklet.

And you could bring that list of names with you -- no problem there. It's not a memory test.

My handwriting is also so poor that my vote would no longer count. ;-)

I was actually thinking of write-ins being implemented as type-ins. Much easier for everybody.

(3): oh my...

[merle_]

I was actually thinking of write-ins being implemented as type-ins.

Ah, I vote absentee. My polling place is inconvenient, and I much prefer lying down with the booklet and a laptop when deciding on who to vote for. Once that part is done I don't want to have to fill in a second ballot.

[byronhaverford]

While I find your suggestions appealing, I think that they are not likely to be accepted by the politicians or the populace.

In California, before every state-wide election, a voter information booklet is mailed (by the state) to every registered voter. Each candidate is allowed to fill a single page with whatever he likes. Each ballot measure gets one page for the pro- and one page for the con-, and one additional page of independent fiscal analysis.

That booklet was INCREDIBLY valuable to me as a voter, and I am convinced that it led to a better-informed electorate. I would pay higher taxes for this service in Pennsylvania.

[cellio]

Agree on probability of acceptance. We can't even get fair ballot access; we're not likely to get any of this...

That booklet sounds like a huge win. Was any of it funded by the candidates, or did the state pay for the whole thing?

[byronhaverford]

State pays. You have to be on the ballot to claim space in the booklet.

[merle_]

I think there's also a fee for getting your information in there (for candidates). At least, I assume that is the case, because some people don't bother and others seem to keep their words to a minimum. Either that, or the Peace and Freedom people really don't have anything to say...